News Article

FSW Dean Receives $10,000 Grant for Educational Research

Oct 19, 2015

OCTOBER 19, 2015 – FORT MYERS, FLA. – Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) School of Education Dean Dr. Lawrence Miller along with The Center for Innovation in Education at the University of Kentucky were recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The grant will provide funding for Dr. Miller and the Center to continue an ongoing research project focused on developing new finance policies and resource allocation strategies that would accelerate student-centered learning in secondary school and better integrate technology into the core curriculum.

“Student-centered or personalized learning meets students where they are and lets them accelerate at their own pace,” Dr. Miller said. “It also provides more ways for students to demonstrate their subject-related competency rather than with just tests. These potential new finance policies and strategies would help unlock extra money in ways that would better support personalized learning, allowing for more opportunities for students to succeed.”

Currently, Dr. Miller and the Center are working with seven sites in Kentucky and New Hampshire to pilot these models, providing research and policy information to state and district officials. He anticipates the long-term initiative will continue on for several years and will involve more states in the future.

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Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving nearly 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW will debut its intercollegiate athletics program in January 2016. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: October 19, 2015